Rep. Sam Liccardo is pushing an AI workforce training plan that would encourage major technology companies to help workers prepare for jobs reshaped by artificial intelligence, according to a report published by San José Spotlight and Palo Alto Weekly on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Liccardo, whose California district includes Meta, Google, xAI and other technology firms, said companies should work with local colleges and community centers to build practical training programs for future AI-related roles.
AI Workforce Training Plan Targets Job Anxiety
The proposal comes as workers and new graduates in Silicon Valley face growing concern over automation and tech layoffs. Amazon, Meta, Intuit and LinkedIn have announced job cuts while continuing to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.
Liccardo’s idea is modeled partly on former President Barack Obama’s proposal for tax credits tied to worker training in regions facing economic change. Liccardo wants companies that hire graduates from these training programs to receive an additional tax credit, arguing that hiring would show real employer commitment.
His broader policy direction is also reflected in the New Democrat Coalition’s Innovation Agenda, released on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The agenda supports tax credits for employers that help develop community college curriculum and make hiring commitments for tech employment.
Related AI Workforce Training Bill
A related bipartisan proposal, the AI Workforce Training Act, was introduced in the U.S. House on Friday, February 13, 2026. The bill, H.R. 7576, was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey with Rep. Mike Lawler of New York and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to create a workforce artificial intelligence training credit. Under the proposal, companies could claim a tax credit equal to 30% of qualified AI training expenses, capped at $2,500 per employee per year. Eligible training could include accredited courses, workshops, certificate programs and in-house instruction covering data literacy, machine learning fundamentals, prompt engineering and AI ethics.
Liccardo Links AI Rules to Safety Benchmarks
Liccardo has also argued for a federal AI safety framework built around the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation. In an opinion article published on Friday, May 22, 2026, he said he is introducing a bill that would empower CAISI to define best safety practices for frontier AI models.
Under that approach, companies meeting CAISI safety standards could receive federal preemption, giving them a safe harbor from certain state-law liability risks tied to cybersecurity, human safety, privacy and similar categories.
Liccardo also supports faster data center approvals when companies invest in batteries and power-grid upgrades. The issue matters because Congress is increasingly trying to balance AI innovation, worker retraining, state regulation, energy demand and public concern over job losses.
